Towards a philosophy of place: Local Local is a boutique architecture practice, designing and transforming buildings and objects that are sensitive to their context. With every new project, Local Local leans into the cultural, social, and geographical nuances of the site, with an intention to listen closely to the philosophy of each place. Locality thus acts as the methodological core of the studio’s design process, incorporating the details, materials, scales, communities, the landscape, and the intangible aura of place into the buildings and objects it creates. Local Local takes nuanced cues from this context and actively reinterprets them to make bold architectural decisions. With a dedication to the experience and sensoriality of an architecture that feels intimate and grounded in its surroundings, the studio follows a holistic approach, both inside and out, from conceptualisation and design to supervision and detailing. Local Local was founded in 2022 by architect Sofia Xanthakou and has completed several residential and cultural projects in Athens and London.
Place is complex: The essence of a place emerges from a combination of personal sensing, social meaning, environmental ethics, cultural nuance, and the storytelling of the terrain.
Place is multi-layered: When we look at a place, we don’t only see the surface. Its many layers can be physically and conceptually excavated, allowing something from its truth to shine through.
Place is people: Buildings are part of neighbourhoods. Homes are part of lineages. Spaces are micro-landscapes of affect that compose human experiences and connections.
Place is home: Understanding the deeper folds of place and context allows for an architecture that is subtle and familiar â new manifestations of locality, where we can feel at comfort and at peace.